TAMPA, Fla. -- The resumes of Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin were in the same pile two years ago this month when both men were candidates for the Steelers' coaching job.

"Thankfully, I was the guy who they were looking for," Tomlin said.

Evidently, the Steelers could have done well either way.

On Sunday, the paths of Whisenhunt and Tomlin will intersect in Super Bowl XLIII. That both were candidates for the same job in 2007 certainly ads spice to the event. But more intriguing is how both men, in their first head coaching jobs, were able to quickly use their personalities and philosophies to create winning teams in such a short period.

Whisenhunt, 46, has turned around a franchise that had one playoff victory in 61 years by changing the culture and demanding accountability.

Charlie Riedel/APMike Tomlin has guided the Steelers back to a familiar place.

Tomlin, at 36 the youngest head coach to reach the Super Bowl, has wrestled away the team's identity from longtime former coach Bill Cowher.

Both found success by being assertive and direct in their approach. But things easily could have turned out differently.

When Cowher stepped down after the 2006 season, one year after winning Super Bowl XL, Whisenhunt's name had already been circulating as a head coaching candidate. That he had spent six seasons with Cowher, the final three as offensive coordinator, made Whisenhunt the obvious choice -- to outside observers.

Inside the franchise, owner Dan Rooney went about the interview process, adhering to the Rooney Rule named after him. The league rule mandates NFL teams interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching vacancies.

In doing so, the Steelers were impressed by a first interview with Tomlin, an African American who then was the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator.

Whisenhunt then interviewed with Arizona and was offered the job. With the Steelers still mulling over candidates, Whisenhunt decided to take the sure thing and was hired Jan.14, 2007. The Steelers hired Tomlin eight days later.

Ross Franklin/APKen Whisenhunt has taken the Arizona Cardinals to the team's first ever Super Bowl.

Whisenhunt has demonstrated no animosity toward the Steelers and said last week about facing his former team: "There is no question, always, that you want to win the game, but if we didn't, there is no other team that I would want to see win it than those guys. From that standpoint, it is an exciting thing."

And he should be happy.

Whisenhunt is one win from becoming probably the most popular professional football coach in the history of the state of Arizona for resurrecting the Cardinals. Arizona was 8-8 in his first season and went 9-7 this regular season.

And it all started with a team-wide attitude adjustment, springing from his experience with the fiery Cowher. Whisenhunt said he had to teach the team how to win to erase the decades-long expectation of losing.

"He is a coach that always stays on us and is always talking about believing in team and not pointing a finger, offense helping 'D' and 'D' helping 'O'," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said.

Tomlin's task was no easy one, either. He replaced a legend in Cowher, who had spent 15 years in Pittsburgh.

"I think that he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for coming into a situation where there was a great coach just leaving," Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said.

The Steelers still have 20 players from the Super Bowl XL team, so the talent was there already. What Tomlin had to do was persuade the players to believe in him so that they would follow his lead.

He won them over with his intensity, passion and personality -- but it took time, even though the Steelers were 10-6 and made the playoffs his first season.

The first year, Tomlin might have pushed too hard to make his presence felt. This year, according to some players, he has learned to trust his players more.

"I think the main thing is just that this year, he's done a better job of listening to his vets," nose tackle Casey Hampton said. "I think last year he was just feeling guys out and doing his own thing and going with his gut. Now, I think he does a real good job of listening to veteran guys and asking his veteran guys what the team's feeling about this or that."

Tomlin downplays his age as a factor in his ability to relate well with his players.

"On a day-to-day basis, it's a nonfactor in terms of what it is we need to do," he said.

Tomlin said part of that training came from his time as an assistant in Tampa Bay under Tony Dungy, the former Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts head coach.

"I learned many lessons from him, but probably more than anything was just how accepting he was of people who he worked with -- their different approaches -- to teaching and conveying his message," Tomlin said.

That personal touch has paid off for Tomlin.

"He's solid as a person, unbelievable mind, older beyond his years and his experience," Pittsburgh wide receivers coach Randy Fichtner said. "He's an extremely selfless person. He cares about everyone else before himself. And good things happen to people like that."